For Dr. Shekhar and Dr. Sharmila Mande, science has always been more than a career—it has been a shared passion that has shaped both their personal and professional lives. The Pune-based couple recently made history by becoming the first husband and wife to be honored with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru’s prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Sharmila Mande, a trailblazing computational biologist and leader in bioinformatics, was recognized in 2025 as one of eight outstanding scientists to receive this esteemed accolade.

Her husband, Dr. Shekhar Mande, who served as the Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), had been awarded the honor a year earlier in 2024.

Their journey together began as classmates pursuing MSc degrees in

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